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When I was very young I used to think that working in a shop would be the best job you could have. I think it was the idea of being surrounded by all the things that normally you wouldn't be able to buy, being able to go into those areas marked "private" and to be a step away from being part of the general public. I remember when I grandmother started working at a Christian book shop and I was so jealous. I remember it was so exciting going into the shop when it was closed and sitting and looking at all the erasers and pens she had. When I started working I had several jobs working in shops and soon un-romanticized the idea for me.
The history of Mr. Polly again holds with the idea that being a shopkeeper is not all that it's cracked up to be. While being one of the most respected of HG Wellls' novels I found it a little disappointing at first. I found it hard to get into the colloquial spellings, mispronunciations and ridiculous words made up by the main character. I did enjoy reading about his younger years, but once he grew up and his father died, and was trying to get married I felt a bit at a loss. Reading books about unlikeable characters with no sympathies and interesting lives is not what I've come to expect from Mr. Wells. However just as I was about to despair Mr. Polly went on a book buying spree and suddenly I found my sympathies returning. Then the book got very good as he planned to commit suicide and burn down his shop as his means of escape. Then the book became a very interesting look at how one can step back from society and just do what you want rather than what you have too.
In the end I found the message enjoyable and uplifting. It was great to see a character pull themselves up and discover inner strength. It was also nice to read a book about the lower middle class of Victorian/Edwardian society for a change. The book was very good at pointing out the stereotypes and misconceptions about them. Though not some of my favorite writing from HG Wells, (I think I much prefer his style when he writes in the first person). In the end I found I enjoyed it quite a bit. Though not as much as Tono-Bungay or The Sleeper has awakened or even The War of the Worlds.
The history of Mr. Polly again holds with the idea that being a shopkeeper is not all that it's cracked up to be. While being one of the most respected of HG Wellls' novels I found it a little disappointing at first. I found it hard to get into the colloquial spellings, mispronunciations and ridiculous words made up by the main character. I did enjoy reading about his younger years, but once he grew up and his father died, and was trying to get married I felt a bit at a loss. Reading books about unlikeable characters with no sympathies and interesting lives is not what I've come to expect from Mr. Wells. However just as I was about to despair Mr. Polly went on a book buying spree and suddenly I found my sympathies returning. Then the book got very good as he planned to commit suicide and burn down his shop as his means of escape. Then the book became a very interesting look at how one can step back from society and just do what you want rather than what you have too.
In the end I found the message enjoyable and uplifting. It was great to see a character pull themselves up and discover inner strength. It was also nice to read a book about the lower middle class of Victorian/Edwardian society for a change. The book was very good at pointing out the stereotypes and misconceptions about them. Though not some of my favorite writing from HG Wells, (I think I much prefer his style when he writes in the first person). In the end I found I enjoyed it quite a bit. Though not as much as Tono-Bungay or The Sleeper has awakened or even The War of the Worlds.
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